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Dramatized from the Story of Placidus in the 
""Martyrs of the Coliseum ^ 



By Rev. 'A. J. O'REIIxLY, D.D., 

Missionaty Apostolic. 



I). & j. SADLIER cS: CO., 31 BARCLAY ST. 
Montreal : 275 Notre Dame Street. 



^^IS' 



V 



THE 



Double Triumph 



DRAMA IN TWO ACTS. 



Dramatized from the story of Placidus, hi the " Martyrs of 
the Coliseum" 



A. J. O'REILLY, Mis. Ap. 



^1 

> 



C ^^ 1- 



New York : 
D. & J. SADLIER & CO., 31 BARCLAY ST. 

MONTREAL : 275 NOTRE DAME STREET. 
1875. 






Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1875, by 

D. & J. SADLIER & CO., 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. 



I ^-3^1411 



CO 



Placidus, Roman General. 

Imogen, ) 

Farfax, \ ^'"'^ 'f P^^^idu^^- 

RuFUS, Captain of Banner-Guard. Most faithful friend 

of Placidus. 
Felix, Pope. 
Adrias, Deacon. 
Trajan, Emperor. 
Adrian, E^nperor. 

Calphurnius, High- Priest of the Capitol. 
Proculus, Governor of Gaul. 
Epicurus, Manager of Baths. 
SiNTULUS, Military Tribune. 
Hibernian. 
Stella, Wife of Placidus. 

Soldiers. Lictors, Couriers, Slaves, etc. 



THE DOUBLE TRIUMPH. 



ACT I. 

Scene i. — Rome, second century, time of Trajan. 
A room in a Roman villa. Matron is sitting at 
a table working. Two children playing, one 
about five, the other three years. A slave fan- 
ning mistress. After a slight pause a bell is 
struck outside. Matron calls slave. 

Matron. Sylvia, what hour has struck? 

Slave. 'Tis the night-watch, noble mistress. 

[ Trainping of soldiers heard outside. 

Matron. What sounds are these ? Has Placi- 
dus come ? Run, Sylvia, and see has the Gene- 
ral come. {Exit slave. 

Matron \rising and looking anxiously in the 
direction whence the sounds came']. Never has 
Placidus acted thus. The moon is high in the 
heavens, and night shrouds the empress city. I 
see the glare of the vestal fires from the Capitol. 
[Looks through lattice.] Can he be hunting still ? 
This morning at daybreak he left me to greet the 
rising sun on the Sabines, and chase the swift 

3 



4 The Doitble Trmmph. 

footed deer. His hour of return has long passed. 
How my heart beats under an anxious pulse ! 
Ye gods, so propitious to the brave, turn aside 
the clouds of evil destiny that might cast a fatal 
shadow on the pathway of the Roman ! \Enter 
Sylvia /mrricdly.'] Say, Silvia, what tidings? 

Slave. Noble mistress, 'tis but the tramp of 
the guard changing the night-watch. But yon- 
der comes Rufus : he surely brings tidings of the 
General. 

Enter RUFUS. Soldiers in armor, carrying Roman 
banner. 

Matron. Rufus, knowest thou aught of thy 
brave commander? Thou wert ever a true sol- 
dier, and kept by his side in the darkest hour. 
How came you separated from him? Speak: I 
fear thy silence. Ye gods, help me ! something 
has happened. 

Rufus. Noble lady, I am loath to fan thy fears 
to darker anticipations of evil ; but — \she starts'] 
— we fear for the safety of the General. 

Matron. I conjure thee, Rufus, to tell me all — 
let the worst come, and save me from this rack- 
ing suspense. Have the enemies of the empire 
waylaid him ? Has his trusty steed fallen ? Do 
ravenous wolves feed on his mangled corpse ? 
[She becomes weak, and is led to a chair by 
a slave. 



The Double Triumph. 5 

Riifiis. Noble lady, none of these calamities 
has befallen thy lord. Although he separated 
from us about noon, we believe he has but lost 
his way in the mountains, and, now that the 
moon is risen, she will lend her silvery light to 
guide him to his home. 

Matron. But how came you to lose him, Ru- 
fus? What happened ? 

Rufus. Early this morning I was by his side, 
when a noble stag started from the copse at our 
feet ; the dogs gave chase, and our neighing 
steeds flew over the mountain-side. The stag 
was the largest ever seen in those hills, and the 
chase the fleetest ever run ; our jaded horses 
soon lagged behind, but the General followed on 
in all the ardor of the chase; we saw his bur- 
nished helmet rolling like a globe of fire through 
the olive-groves, and then appearing at intervals 
like gleams of moonlight through the ravines of 
Marino ; finally we lost sight of him. We halted 
in the shade of a fig-tree, and hoped each moment 
to see our gallant commander return with the 
spoils of his brilliant chase. Four weary hours 
passed, and not even a dog returned to tell by his 
blood-stained mouth of the death of the stag. 
We then searched the mountain-side, and called 
aloud again and again for our General ; but the 
echo of our hoarse voices broke the stillness of 
the mountain-side, mingling with the moan of 



6 The Double Triumph. 

the startled owls. The setting sun, falling in 
clouds of golden splendor over the towers of 
Ostia, made us tremble for his safety. We hur- 
ried to head-quarters to seek a detachment of 
horse to scour the mountain-side. Behold, noble 
lady, how I am separated from the General I The 
life-stream of my heart is not dearer than thy 
lord. Rufus will not wield his battle-axe under 
any other commander. Placidus must be found ! 
Matron. Noble Rufus, haste to the Sabines 
once more, bring back my Placidus, and my 
gratitude shall dictate thy reward. 

\Noise is heard outside. Soldiers cheer. SYL- 
VIA runs out. All look in the direction. 

Matron. What has happened ? 

[Sylvia, rtimting in, cries out in loud voice. 
Slave. 'Tis Placidus ! 'Tis Placidus ! 

Enter PLACIDUS, a Rojna?i general, gorgeously 
dressed, armor, plumes, etc. Embraces his ivife. 
A pause. 

Matron [emphatic ally\. I breathe again. My 
troubled heart has leaped from despair to joy. 
Placidus, art thou ill? . . . What has caused 
this delay, and to thy Stella such long hours of 
anxious suspense ? 

[Placidus, relieving himself from her em- 
brace, slowly passes to a seat ; places his 



The Double Triumph, 7 

head in his hands ; seems in trojible. All 
gather round. After a short pause he rises 
slozvly^ waves his hand majestically^ mak- 
ing sign for all to depart except matron. 
RUFUS, Sylvia, soldiers, etc., retire R. C, 
looking anxiously towards him. Again 
Placidus becomes absorbed in thought. 
At length matron draws near, and, kneeling 
at his feet, speaks anxiously. 

Matron. Placidus, speak to thy Stella. What 
cloud hangs on thy cheerful spirit ? Never be- 
fore hast thou come home in this mood ; we for 
hours have watched and turned the hour-glass, 
listening for thy well-known footsteps on the 
threshold ; but Rufus told us how thou hadst lost 
thy way in the mountain, and truly prophesied 
the waning moon would bring thee home. 
Speak, and let an anxious spouse share thy 
trouble. 

[Placidus, raising his head a7id taking his 
zvife's hand, speaks slowly and majestically. 

Placidus. Stella, I have a strange tale to tell 
thee. Thou knowest the terrors of war and the 
crash of empires have ever been my delight. I 
feared no enemy, and knew no god but my sword. 
Since last I sat beneath these ancestral towers a 
change has come over the spirit of my dream. 
Like sunshine bursting from clouds, a vision from 



8 The Double Triumph, 

the realms beyond the grave has passed before 
these eyes. A deity greater than the gods of 
the empire has manifested himself to me. Stella, 
I am this day a Christian ! 

Matron. Placidus ! art mad ? — that hated sect 
— persecuted by the emperors — the enemies of 
the gods ! Think of thy wealth — thy fame — thy 
children — 

Placichis. Hold, Stella! thou must hear me 
then thou too wilt be Christian. This morning I 
went as usual to the chase. Never did a more 
beautiful sun rise over the Campagna — never did 
fresher breezes blow over the Sabine slopes. I 
felt all the vigor of youth, and, whilst my steed 
neighed with impatience, I cursed the gods we 
could not find the game. Towards the eleventh 
hour we heard a rustling in the brushwood ; out 
sprang a magnificent stag ; we gave chase ; we 
flew over the mountain-side with a speed that 
would mock the eagle's flight ; torrents rolled 
under the hoofs of the horses, and fearlessly we 
rode along the edge of startling precipices; soon 
my gallant steed outstripped my companions in 
the chase. On we went, over hill and dale, and 
penetrated far into the rocky Apennines. I lost 
control of my foaming steed, but feared not, for 
some destiny seemed to urge us on. Suddenly 
the stag came to bay, made an immense bound, 
and reached a ledge of rocks that hung over us : 



The Double Triitniph, 9 

it turned towards me, and, behold, I saw a strange 
sight ! In its branching horns there was a h"ght 
brighter than the sun ; my dazzled eyes could 
discern in this light the figure of a man nailed to 
a cross, who spoke to me words of strange mys- 
tery. At the same time a light shot through 
my soul — I understood the mercy of the mighty 
Being who is aJone the true God I {^Pauses, and 
fixes his eyes in serious thought on heaveit. TJien, 
starting^ suddenly eontinuesl] Stella, this night 
we go to the Catacombs ; the pastor Felix, the 
chief of the Christian sect, awaits us ; he will 
explain all. Awaken thy infants, take them with 
thee, for a messenger awaits outside to guide us; 
ere the dawn of the morrow's sun, we shall be 
Christians'. 

Mat 7' on [excitedly']. But, Placid us! 

Placidus. Hush ! 

*' Procastination is the thief of time, 
Year after year it steals until all is fled, 
And to the mercies of a moment leaves 
The vast concerns of an eternal scene." 

\^Matron leaves L. C. PLACIDUS, moving slow- 
ly after, is called by SiNTULUS, a military 
tribune, zvho has entered by R. C. 

Sintulus. Placidus, the Emperor expects you 
this evening at the Baths of Titus, to meet the 



lo The Double Triumph, 

Prefect of the Gaulish Provinces, who has arrived 
in the city to-day. 

Piacidiis. Sintulus, Placidus is called by a 
higlier power, and will return anon. 

{^Exit L. C. 

Sintiihis \looking after hiui in zvonder\. What 
mean these words? Called by a higher power 
than the Emperor! He is plotting a conspiracy. 
[RUFUS steals in from behind, unseen by SlNTU- 
LUS, and listens^ What a splendid chance for 
nie to seek promotion by revealing the plot to 
the Emperor. I shall meet Trajan at the baths, 
and rise to eminence on the blighted fame of 
Rome's greatest man. \^Exit excitedly. 

Rnfus [with hand in sivord']. Caitiff! thy first 
word against Placidus shall be thy last ! 

\_Remains in attitude of attack. Curtain 
falls. 



Scene 2. — Crypt in Catacombs. Table, large 
cross, rude and black ; on the table, book, hour- 
glass, etc. Sitting near the table, the PoPE 
Felix, a venerable old man, long ivhite beard, 
etc. 

Felix. How wonderful are the ways of God ! 
Too mysterious for the grasp of human reason. 
All is now darkness and gloom, yet triumph is 
certain. Wrapt in the womb of futurity, truth 



The Double Triumph. 1 1 

will emerge like sunrise over the ancient hills on 
the clcirkened plains. That Spirit which brooded 
over the chaotic darkness and illumined creation 
with the flood of daylight shall utter another 
fiat over the moral night of paganism, and give 
Christianity a cloudless sky for the salvation of 
man. Seventy years have rolled their trying and 
bloody vicissitudes over thy infant Church since 
she first sought the shelter of these cr3^pts ; the 
martyred heroes who sleep in those crimsoned 
tombs cry to thee for that mercy which is the 
revenge of a God. Steadily thy holy cause is 
progressing against the tide of human passions ; 
each drop of blood that purples Roman soil is 
the fruitful germ of souls that spring to life 
under the sword that gives death. Still thy 
servants bleed in the amphitheatre; their mira 
cles dazzle thousands Avithout bringing convic- 
tion. The irrational brute sees thy image in the 
Christian victim ; but man, thy loved creature, is 
shrouded in voluntary darkness. \^Hc kneels.'] 
" How long, O Lord, wilt thou not have mercy 
on Jerusalem ! " Give one propitious glance on 
this impious city, and let the voice of thy praise 
ring through its habitations. 

\_After a slight pause he stretches his arms in 
surprise, and gazes on a vision made to appear 
on the stage thus : In tJie eentre of the scene 
there is a second smaller one, which is made to 



12 Th: Double Triumph, 

rise slowly. Within is a scene in the Apen- 
nines^ nioufitains made with cork. On a rock 
a stags head, in its brand ling horns a cruci- 
fix, on zvJiich a strong light is rejlected from 
above by a mirror. Under the rock PlaCI- 
DUS, dressed as in \st scene. A shozver of 
golden snoiv, made by small slips of gold- 
paper. Soft music all the time. Curtain 
falls slowly again. Then a plaintive air is 
sung without words by a female voice froin 
zvithin, pianissimo. FELIX, zvith hands 
folded in prayer, the moment the air is 
sung, springs excitedly to his feet. 

Felix. Have idle fancies been mocking my 
eyes? What can mean this strange vision ? Is 
it a wile of Satan to distract my thoughts ? Ah ! 
thanks to the Eternal Giver of all good gifts, the 
martyrs bleed not in vain I Behold, an apostle is 
called, whose conversion shall bring a harvest of 
souls as numerous as the flakes of golden snow 
seen in my dream ! 

Enter Adrias, a young deacon, bearing dalmatic, 
as zvas the custom in those times. {N. B. The 
dalmatic zvas originally a pagan costume^ 
Kisses Pope's hand, kneels. 

Felix. My child, what news from the outer 
world ? 



The Double TiHuniph. 13 

Adrias. Holy Father, I have just been to the 
city, and administered the holy mysteries to the 
poor family near the Arch of Dollabella ; but I 
should have been here much sooner were it not 
that I waited to witness a scene the most glori- 
ous in these days of triumph for the Church of 
God. 

Felix. Say, Adrias, what has been thy happy 
lot ? Has the storm of persecution ceased to 
toss the bark of truth on the pagan world ? 
Has man wearied to war with the Great Eternal, 
and proclaimed the freedom of the unoffending 
Christian ? 

Adrias. Alas ! Holy Father, darker than ever 
are the clouds that lower on our horizon ; the per- 
secution has freshened to a gale ; the city rings 
with blasphemy against the crucified God of the 
Christians. When I crossed the Capitol and de- 
scended the Way of Triumph into the Forum, I 
saw crowds of people engaged in excited conversa- 
tion. I listened, and learned the edicts against 
the Christians were to be pushed forward with 
greater vehemence than ever, and on the por- 
tals of the Temple of Fortune I saw and read the 
bronze plates that announced the crown for so 
many soldiers of Christ. Suddenly turning 
towards the Tullian keep, I saw a crowd oi 
brutal men leading in bonds my little friend 
Marinus. \_Sheds tcars.~] Groans, hisses, and 



14 The Double Triumph, 

shouts burst from the crowd as they led him 
towards the CoHseum ; but the brave child 
looked tranquil and happy. ' At first impulse I 
was about to rush to his side and claim com- 
panionship in his happy lot. I knew he was 
going to his crown, and, working my way through 
the crowd, I whispered encouragement into his 
ears. He smiled in joy, and bade me bring his 
last farewell to you. Arrived at the Coliseum, I 
found its mighty womb already filled with the 
heartless mob w^ho gloat over the bloody games 
of the circus; but, wishing to see the end of the 
noble boy, I wrapped my cloak around me, and 
took my place in the second tier. A murmur 
rose through the assembled multitude that a 
noble Christian youth was to be exposed to the 
lions. After a moment's pause Marinus was led 
into the arena ; he still bore his senatorial lati- 
clave, and seemed a little seraph in human form. 
There burst from the people a shout that rolled 
like thunder through the vomitories of the mighty 
amphitheatre, and shook the heavens with un- 
utterable blasphemies against God. The trum- 
pets were sounded, and an enormous lion bound- 
ed into the arena; he crouched, prepared to 
spring on the defenceless youth : the silence of 
death hung over the crowd, when — all praise be 
to our good Lord ! — the animal suddenly drew 
up, as if some invisible being stayed his ravenous 



The Double Triumph, 15 

nature; coming gently towards Marinus, the lion 
commenced to lick the hands and feet of the 
martyr boy. Cries of witchcraft, of death, and 
of surprise again moved the crowd. Some 
called for more animals, others for his liberty, 
and from not a i^\N I heard the pleasing cry of 
" Great is the God of the Christians ! " 

Felix. What did they then ? Say on, Adrias : 
was Marinus crowned ? 

Adrias. Yes, Holy Father, the prefect was 
fired with rage, and, fearing a tumult amongst 
the people, ordered the noble youth to be be- 
headed. I saw the axe falL Marinus slept 
where Ignatius fell, smiling on his murderers 
with angelic forgiveness; his body was cast into 
the spoliarium. I bribed the keepers to give 
it to me, and I have just committed the sacred 
relics to the Fossores. 

Felix. Poor Marinus ! lovely, angelic boy ; but 
yesterday you told me how you longed for your 
crown. Peerless lily of Eden ! transplanted from 
the gardens of earth to bloom in everlasting fra- 
grance in the blossoms of thy unfading merit. I 
see thee hailed by millions of kindred spirits, 
whose smiles of congratulation lendeth lustre to 
thy well-earned crown. See, Adrias, to the Acts 
of the noble youth ; let future generations know 
the material on which the Church of God is 
built. 



1 6 . The Double Triumph. 

Adrias. I have yet another strange circum- 
stance to tell your Holiness, if I may speak. 

Felix. Go on, Adrias ; everything concerning 
my persecuted flock must needs interest me. 
"Who is scandalized and I not burn?" 

Adrias. When I was coming along the Sala- 
rian Way, bringing with me the relics of Mari- 
nus, there suddenly came up a party consisting 
of two men, a woman, and two children ; they 
seemed beautifully dressed, and one of the men 
was girded with armor and sword, and seemed to 
be a military man of high rank. A youth of 
heavenly appearance, who seemed to guide the 
party, came towards me, and, saluting the re- 
mains of Marinus, called me by my name, and 
bade me guide the family to you, and instantly 
disappeared. 

Felix. How strange ! What did you with the 
family, Adrias? Where are they now? 

Adrias. May it please your Holiness, when I 
arrived at these Catacombs, not wishing to aban- 
don the body of Marinus till in the safe-keeping 
of the Fossores, I prayed the priest Cyprian to 
speak to them until I could acquaint you of the 
circumstances. 

Felix. Haste, Adrias, and bring them to this 
crypt. \Exit Adrias.] *Tis the harvest of 
blood : the sunshine of eternal truth, struggling 



The Dozible Triumph, 17 

through clouds of human darkness, has fallen on 
a few chosen souls. 



Enter Placidus and family. All kneel. The 
Pope stretches his hands over them in silence 
for a moment^ then, advancing towards them, 

says : 

Felix. Rise, Placidus! thy name is written in 
the Book of Life. 

Placidus \sloivly and majestically']. He who 
rules the destinies of man has deigned to illu- 
mine my darkened senses. By divine command 
I stand before thee, venerable Pastor of the 
Christian Church, to receive the Sacrament of 
regeneration. 

Felix. My son, dost thou believe .^^ 

Placidus. I believe. 

Felix. Then hearken to the word that has been 
spoken m vision to me, the unworthy servant of 
the servants of God. Great things are destined 
for thee, Placidus, but thou must first be hum- 
bled and proved in the crucible of trial and puri- 
fied, as dross is taken from the alloy. Go agaiti 
with the morrov/'s sun to the spot in the Apen- 
nines where the Divine Spirit has manifested 
itself to thee, and thou wilt hear again the will 
of him to whom thou pledgest fealty. Nerve 
thy spirit for greater battles than those that have 



1 8 The Double Triu7npk. 

g;irded thy name with terror to the enemies of 
the Empire; thou must fight with enemies in- 
visible, imperishable, and implacable ; but all 
battles are triumphs under the banners of the 
Son of God. \TJii chanting of psalms is heard in 
hhe distance.'] But hither come our flock for 
n^iorning prayer ; let us repair to the chapel for 
instruction and baptism. 

[_A procession is tJien made to pass. Christians 
in ancient costnine, carrying lighted tapers, 
singing some plaintive chant. A splendid 
opportunity for a beautiful chorus, such as 
from the cloister-scene of " / Puritani!'' 
After procession, Stella, children, Pope, 
and Placid US join and exeunt. Curtain 
falls. 



Scene 3. — Room, as in first scene. Placidus sit- 
ting at table. Parchment, style, etc. CalphuR- 
NIUS, the high-priest of the Capitol, stands before 
him. 

Placidus \scornfidly\. What brings you here to- 
d;i\', Calphurnius ? 

Calphurnius. A matter of the deepest impor- 
tance ; but first I must tell of my pride in the 
friendship of Rome's greatest General — the most 
devout to the gods — 

Placidus. There is some villanous scheme lurk- 



The Double Triumph, 19 

ing under thy lying tongue, but I will hear thee, 
priest. Thou choosest to be friends with the 
great. Were I poor and nameless as a slave, 
would this honor be conferred on me? 

Calphurnins. Noble General I the high-priest of 
the Capitol would not demean his dignity by 
noticing slaves and serfs, except to trample them 
under his heel as he w^ould the worm on his path ! 

Placidiis. Enough, proud hypocrite, of thy time- 
wasting self-stilting ! I would hear thy busi- 
ness ! 

Calphnruius. You are aware. General, the 
whole empire is groaning under the weight of an 
increasing misfortune — worse than the failure of 
the harvest — worse than epidemic or decimating 
plague — worse than defeat in battle and the sub- 
jugation of the empire to a barbarous power — 
'tis the spread of the Christian sect ! [PlaciduS,. 
rising, scozvls, and places his hand on swoi'di] The 
remedy to this evil. General, is in your hands. 
Yesterday, when passing through the camp, we 
lieard your name on every soldier's lips, and my 
colleagues and myself, who are the next power 
to the army, have agreed in council to get rid of 
the imbecile emperor who tolerates this impious 
sect, and place on his throne the chosen of tlie 
army, the beloved of the gods — you, Placidus, 
who will persecute to the death the worshippers 
of the Jewish Prophet. 



20 The Double Triu^nph, 

Placidus \slozvy and majestically]. " And leading 
him up a hill, showed him all the kingdoms of the 
earth ; and said, All these will I give thee, if, fall- 
ing down, thou wilt adore me." Calphurnius ! I 
would not shed one drop of innocent blood for 
fifty empires. Would piety towards the gods 
make me deluge Rome with its noblest blood, 
and make Roman homes resound with the cry of 
the widow and the orphan? The Christians are 
an innocent people ; they have the right of citi- 
zenship as well as you or your motley crew of 
pampered hypocrites; but, proud priest, thou art 
a spider strangled in thy own web ; thou hast 
quaffed the cup thou hast poisoned for an inno- 
cent victim ; you stand before me a convicted 
criminal ; thou hast conspired against the life and 
throne of the Emperor, and before sunset thy 
guilty head shall roll from the public scaffold. Ho ! 
there, guards ! {Enter soldiers, zvho seize him.'] 
Calphurnius, I am a Christian ! 

CalpJiurnius {falling on J lis knees, crying piteoiis- 
ly for 7/iercy]. Mercy ! mercy ! great General ! I 
only meant — 

Placidus. Silence, hypocrite ! Calphurnius, thy 
life is now in my hand ; but, as we Christians do 
not trample on the worm in our path, I will let 
thee live if thou wilt swear, and sign with thy 
blood, a compact that thou wilt never again speak 
against the Christians. 



T/ie Double Triumph, 21 

Calpluirnius. I swear! I swear ! 

Placidiis. Thou wilt sign, caitiff, thy own 
death-warrant. [Placidus goes to table and 
zvrites. After ivriting a moment, during whie/i 
high-priest is zvringing his hands — ] Soldier, tie 
his finger, and pierce it with this style. Let him 
sign in blood an oath we will make him keep. 
\_So/dier ties, etc. High-priest led to table. Re- 
fuses. Vl.KClTi\]^drazvsszvord,and aloud.'\ Priest, 
sign ! [Priest signs.'] Lead the caitiff to the 
street, and set him free again on the world he con- 
taminates. 

Enter RUFUS. 

Placidus. Ho, Rufus I we have had a merry time 
of it just now. You know Calphurnius, the many- 
colored hypocrite that pretends to wield the thun- 
ders of Jupiter — he wanted to make me emperor; 
the army would proclaim me, and he would se- 
cure the consent of the Senate and people if I 
would promise to persecute the Christians ! but 
I made him swear and sign with his blood a pro- 
mise never to speak again against the Chris- 
tians — 

Rufus. Better you should have roasted him at 
his own fires; Calphurnius's oath, even signed 
with blood, will break like a rotten reed at the 
first pressure. Thou hast set free, General, a 



22 The Double Triumph, 

wretch who will move heaven and earth to ruin 
thee. 

Placidus. The conscious heart that fears not 
the light of day shall little brook the treachery 
of a miscreant like Calphurnius! 

Rnfus. Thou hast other enemies, General, more 
powerful than Calphurnius. Was Sintulus here 
this morning ? 

Placidus. Yes, but I dismissed him summarily, 
as urgent domestic affairs called me. 

Rufiis. And I overheard him prepare a charge 
of conspiracy against thee. 

Placidus, What ! dishonor ! Is he in league with 
the vile Calphurnius — would Trajan believe? 

Enter lucssenger excitedly. 

Messenger. General, your villa on the Nomen- 
tan Way has been burnt ; horses, cattle, and some 
of the slaves lost ! 

Placidus \inajestieall)'\. When the tide of desti- 
ny has returned to its rocky boundary, the billows 
of misfortune flow in steadily, one by one, bear- 
ing on their snowy crest the fragments of the 
storm's wreck ! Rufus, my night of long, bitter 
woe is gathering its sable darkness around me. 
With shattered fortunes and blighted honor I 
shall not wait to meet a traitor's doom. [^Enter 
Adrias, the deacon, presenting letter to PLACIDUS. 
Placidus opens and reads.'] 



The Double Tritmtph, 23; 

*' We caution thee, our beloved son Placidus,, 
of the pagan priest Calphurnius. He has laid a 
plot to get you to acknowledge yourself a Chris- 
tian, and then betray you to the Emperor. The 
rumors of your conversion are passing through 
Rome. We recommend you to secrete yourself 
till the storm blow over. FELIX." 

\A triLinpct is heard outside, A coiiriei' front- 
the royal household enters. 

Courier. The Emperor would have the General 
Placidus to meet him at the Temple of Apollo, 
on the Palatine, before sunset. \Exit.. 

Placidus. The hour is not yet come in which I 
must proclaim my faith to all the Roman people, 
but the fire around the crucible into which my 
sinful nature is to be cast is reaching a blaze. 
Rufus, take this scroll, and, if avenging Heaven 
place it in thy power to vindicate the sanctity 
of an oath, let retributive justice mete that cai- 
tiff's doom. Be heir of my horse and my faith- 
ful dog — they may no more accompany their mas- 
ter to the chase ; take my sword \_unbuckles belli ; 
other weapons must be wielded against enemies 
that are invisible, indestructible, and implacable. 
Sjnoves towards lattice?^ Farewell, thou mighty 
city, wnose monuments of a thousand victories 
are the soldier's pride ! whose legions are the 
terror of every nation ! whose dark idolatry is the 



24- The Double Triumph, 

regret of every Christian ! Farewell, thou marble 
walls of my ancestral home — thy softening memo- 
ries shall haunt my exile and embitter the hard- 
ships of my servitude. And to the veteran com- 
panions of our arms, thou, Rufus, must tell them 
their General \zveeps\ — struggles to say — farewell! 

[Scene. — Agonies of far eivell by Placidus, 
gradually receding. Sndden exit. Rufus in 
grief. Curtain falls. Music plaintive and 
pianissimo during the silent farewell of 
Placidus. 



Scene 4. — A hall in the Baths of Titus. Em- 
peror on throne. Around, courtiers y gold cups 
in their hands, all gorgeously dressed. {The 
dress of Trajan, as taken from his statue in 
Rome, given in GoldsniitJi s *' History of 
Rome.'') Enter Epicurus, a red-faced noble, 
who glories in the title of Bagnanius, or Mana- 
ger of the Baths. EmperoR seeing him ap- 
proach. 

Trajan. Ha, Epi ! you have been lifting your 
Falernian cups rather freely this afternoon. 
I could hear your merry laugh the loudest in the 
triclinium whilst we were swimming. 

Epicurus. Most divine Emperor ! I — I am 
the happiest man in this mighty realm I 



The Double Triu^nph, 25 

Traja7t. What has happened, then, to make 
you more so than usual ? 

Epicurus, Plenty, by Jupiter ! Yesterday one- 
of my saw-mill wiv^es had her threads cut and 
slipped down to the infernal home of Pluto ; to- 
day I had a meeting of creditors who agreed to 
let me go free from what they knew they never 
would get; and I have here \seizing a silver jug 
placed on a table in the centre'] the finest ten-year- 
old vintage, the taste of which would make old 
Bacchus thirsty every time he would pass a 
tavern. \_A II drink. 

All. Remarkably good; very fine wine indeed! 

Epicurus [aside]. Mighty fine judges indeed! 

\_Makes gestures to sJiozv the pump had some- 
thing to do zvith it. Whilst they are drink- 
ing a trumpet is heard outside. 

Epicurus. Here comes Proculus, the prefect of 
the Gaulish Provinces ! [Enter, rapidly, PROCU- 
LUS, a military commaitder. Sword, plumes, cloak, 
etc. Kneels at Emperor s throne. ] 

All. Hail to the conqueror of the Britons! 

Proculus. Most Supreme Emperor, pardon my 
late appearance at the imperial audience. 

Trajan. Rise, Proculus, and relate at ease the 
history of thy travels, thy battles, and thy con- 
quests. Fill thy glass, Proculus, and drink some 
of Epi's ten-year-old. 



26 The Double Triumph. 

Epicin'iis \asidc\, 'Tis not mine now ; I'll never 
see it again ! 

[ Tkcy drink. A verse of some popular soi?^ 
may be here introdiieed ; zve ivotild suggest 
one of Proiif s adaptations in Lati?i to the 
airs of ^' Moore s Me todies I' 

Trajan. And now, Proculus, what think you 
of the Bretons? 

Proeulus. Most divine Emperor, I swear by my 
sword a braver or nobler people never yet passed 
under the Roman yoke.* We are victorious, but 
our victory has cost us the flower uf our legions. 
For several months we carried on an unequal war- 
fare. The hardy race made impregnable fortresses 
of their mountains, and forced us to loiter and 
starve in uncultivated plains. At length we 
called to our aid the stratagem that defeated the 
invincible Troy of old. We feigned a retreat. The 
hardy warriors rushed from the mountains, yelling 
a victorious war-whoop, and followed us with fatal 
indiscretion to the plains. We suddenly turned 
our front and gave them battle, but the veterans 
of thy armies were matches. For three 1-ong days 
a bloody battle raged, and I feared at one time 
the combat would end with nothing short of the 

" The yoke was a species of wooden arch (sometimes square), 
under which a conquered army was made to pass in token of 
their defeat and degradation. 



The Double Triumph, 27 

annihilation of both armies. At length I deter- 
mined by a desperate blow to close the engage- 
ment. Seeing their brave chieftain on a white 
charger, leading on his comrades in the thick of 
the fight, with all the ardor of my youthful days 
I rushed for him, and engaged him at once in a 
desperate struggle. The two armies by mutual 
accord remained with uplifted swords to watch 
the issue of our deadly combat. We fought and 
struck and parried for an hour. Both our horses 
were slain at the same moment, we grappled each 
other, and fell in a pool of blood. I heard a faint 
cry from my veterans, and with one desperate 
effort I plunged this poniard into his heart i 
S^SJioivs poniard still stained with British chief- 
tain s blood. All present cheer. ProcuLUS con- 
tinnes.'] The battle was now over, and whilst I 
was carried to my tent, bleeding and faint, I 
heard from the rejoicing veterans of my army the 
well-known cry of their victory. Peace could be 
had from this brave people only under one con- 
dition — that their sons and daughters should not 
be seized as the slaves of the Roman people. 
Fearing the issue of a second engagement with a 
maddened and despairing nation, and admiring 
the nobility of character that placed our new al- 
lies in a standard of honor equal only to Rome 
itself, I signed, with a trembling hand, a treaty 
the most glorious in the archives of war. Most 



28 The Dotcble Triumph. 

noble Emperor ! it ill becomes me to laud the 
importance of the conquest benign Fortune has 
oiven for my boast ; but conviction bears me over 
the gulf of centuries to behold in the march of 
nations the future glory of Britannia. The tute- 
hiry duties of our wealth, our civilization, and our 
jjovver will meet the sweep of Boreas in their 
progress to the North, and build up their celes- 
tial thrones in that part of the firmament whence 
they can smile on the land of the Briton. A peo- 
ple so brave, so industrious, so noble, have a 
power more lasting than an impregnable fortress, 
or an empire that can guard her frontier with a 
girdle of steel. When our superb city, now the 
mistress queen of the world, shall have grown 
old and feeble ; when the golden grains of her 
brilliant career shall have ceased to run in the 
glass of time, she will pass to ruin like Troy, like 
Carthage and Athens; but the manes of her 
fallen magnificence shall flee to the land whose 
natural wealth and moral worth shall give her a 
new empire to rule. And now, emperor, I ask 
but one favor : Weakened with wounds and 
bowed with age, may this laurel wreath which 
my triumph has placed on an unworthy brow, be 
never again ruffled by the storms of war; may 
its withered leaves be never replaced by fresh 
tokens of the bloodshed and slavery of a free 
people ! 



The Double Triumph. 29 



\_ApproacJics and lays his sword at the foot o 
Emperor s throne. Kneels in s He nee, etc. 



Trajan. Proculus, I know not which to admire 
most — the bravery that has won for the empire 
such vakiable conquest, or the magnanimity that 
makes thee place thy sword at our feet. Al- 
though great the loss of your guiding spirit to 
our iilvincible legions, it would be cruel and un- 
just to refuse the retirement you so justly de- 
serve. Share, then, for the rest gf thy days the 
splendors of our golden house, and leave the art 
and cruelty of war to the young and ambitious, 
whose love of glory is stronger than their sym- 
pathy. Rise, General, and be seated near us to 
assist in the administration of justice. \^Rises 
and takes place prepared near Emperor.'] And now, 
Epi, who is the next on your list seeking the 
honor of an interview ? 

Epicurus. Calphurnius, may it please your 
divinity ! the well-beloved of the gods — the priest 
of Jupiter, high-priest of the Capitol, and Seaside] 
a whining old hypocrite I 

[ Whilst last line is being said tzvo boys appear 
at R. C, entering backwards — dressed as 
acolytes, bearing pans of burning incense, 
and salaaming zvith right hand. Then CAL- 
PHURNIUS — dressed in red, yellow, ajtd bltte 



30 The Double Triumph, 

— fantastically carries small idol of Jupiter 
in Jiands, Kneels before EmferoR. 

Trajan. Well, Calphurnius, what's troubling 
you now more than piety? 

Calphurnius. Divine Emperor ! worse than a 
thousand deaths, the piety towards the gods is 
waning ; the detestable Christian sect is increas- 
ing, and their wily old chief is sapping the foun- 
dations of thy imperial throne! {There would 
be a fine opening Jiere to introduce an extract from 
some ranting declaimer against papal aggression?^ 
Down in the crypts of the Vatican this rival 
monarch holds his meetings. Some of the noblest 
families of the city go there to worship a calf's 
head and drink the blood of a murdered child. 
In the name of the immortal gods whose temples 
are abandoned, in the name of the priests whose 
feasts and fees are becoming reduced, we wish to 
have renewed the salutary laws of our beloved 
and divine Nero. Add to thy many deeds of 
valor and glory, a name which shall be handed to 
posterity for piety towards the gods, in the anni- 
hilation of the Christian sect ! 

Trajan. Calphurnius, besides the fact of lessen- 
ing your fees, can you say wherefore those Chris- 
tians may not be permitted to live ? 

Calphurnius. Permit them to live, Emperor, 
and you shall be the first victim of their dark 



The Double Triumph. 31 

conspiracies. Already your throne is shaken ; 
from the provinces there conies a cry of indigna- 
tion at your ill-starred leniency towards those 
enemies of mankind ; by your toleration they 
have increased like vermin in an unswept cham- 
ber ; the army is contaminated, and the plebs 
are fascinated with the unheard-of charity they 
practise towards one another. Fearing their in- 
creasing power and numbers, we announce to 
thee, Emperor, unless thou persecutest to the 
death those hated Christians, the robes shall be 
torn from the priests of the immortal gods, and 
the time-honored constitutions of this mighty 
empire shall be forever destroyed. Thy throne 
shall pass to another, and thyself made the foot- 
stool of a Christian. 

Trajan. Insolent priest ! the lictors' rods shall 
teach thee to respect our piety towards the gods. 
Lictors, see that Calphurnius remains, and when 
we have ceased our audience we shall interview 
this noisy priest. 

CalpJiurnhis. Mercy, great, immortal Emperor ! 
There breathes not a more loyal subject to thy 
majesty than the pious Calphurnius ! 

Enter ZoViVA^"^. 

■Courier. Emperor! Sintulus, the Tribune of 
the Pretorian Guard, seeks an audience. He has 
most important news to communicate. 



32 The Double Triumph. 

Trajan \_crossl)'\. Let him come forward, then, 
without delay. 

{^Enter SiNTULUS. Kisses ground before 
throne, 

Trajan. Say, Sintulus, what important busi- 
ness brings thee here to-day? 

Sintulus. Emperor, as I Hve, the gods have 
made me the happy instrument to save thy 
life. 

Trajan. How, Sintulus ? 

Sintulus. I have discovered a most dangerous 
conspiracy against thy throne — 

Trajan. Go on, miscreant, or by the gods we 
will wring from thee thy unpleasant news ! 

Sintulus. This very evening thy blood would 
be shed at the vestibule of the golden house, if I 
were not the most faithful of thy subjects to 
hasten with warning of the threatened danger. 
Not many hours ago I overheard the plot : an- 
other emperor is already named, and one of thy 
generals has proclaimed allegiance to the revolu- 
tion. 

Trajan. Who is it that would thus tamper 
with our royal power? Name him, Sintulus, that 
the dogs may feed on his carcass by moonlight! 

Sintulus. 'Tis no other than the great General 
Placidus ! 

Trajan. Placidus ! 



The Double Triumph, 33 

All. Placidus ! Placidus 

S^A mtinnur passes for a moment. Trajan 
rises^ advancing excitedly : 

Trajan. Ye gods ! Placidus plotting my life ! 
Placidus a conspirator ! 'Tis false ! Miscreant, 
thou liest like a slave ! There's no more honor- 
able blood in the empire than flows in the veins 
of the brave General ! 

Sintnlns. I swear by the stars shining in the 
blue vault of heaven, I heard the General say 
he had now to give his allegiance to a higher 
power ! 

Calphurnius. 'Tis true, Emperor; and more, I 
can testify he is a Christian. 

Trajan. Summon the Pretorian guard instant- 
ly. Sound the call to arms, and let me meet in 
battle the wretch that would strike in the dark ! 

[^Short blast on trumpet. A bustle at I.. C. 
Enter RUFUS quickly, zvrapped in cloak 
and in disguise. In coarse, rough voice : 

Rufus. Stand aside, Sintulus ! I'll deal with 
thee just now. [^Turning to the Emperor ?\ Noble 
Emperor! there is a* foul plot afloat to blast the 
fame of Rome's greatest man. These statements 
are false ! Would you give credence to the word 
of a wretch, who would break a sworn oath sealed 
by his own blood ? 



34 The Double Triumph, 

Trajan. What mean you, stranger? This is no 
time for useless queries. 

Rnfus. One of these witnesses, that has accused 
Placidus of treason, has himself plotted against 
th)^ throne, and offered to make the General em- 
peror. Placidus scorned the power that would 
be given by dishonorable means ; but under his 
sword made the wretch sign an acknowledgment 
of his guilt in his own blood ! 

CalpJuirnius [ greatly excited whilst Rufus is 
speaking\. 'Tis false, Emperor ! 

Rufus. Silence, caitiff, or by heaven we will cut 
out thy false tongue ! The General has left the 
city, but before going he entrusted me with this 
parchment. 

\Praivs from under cloak. EMPEROR reads 
qtiickly. Calphurnius wringing his hands ^ 
etc. 

" I Calphurnius, high-priest of the Capitol, 
swear and sign this oath with my blood, that I 
offered the throne of the empire to Placidus on 
condition he would persecute the Christians ; and 
I further swear never again to speak against this 
harmless sect. 

" Signed in blood, 

" Calphurnius." 

Trajan. Perjured villain ! Shackle him — death 
by inches shall rid us of this pious impostor ! 



The Double Triumph, 35 

Epicurus, The pious Calphurnius ! \^Makes ges- 
tures of piety and hypocrisy ^ 

Rufus, And now, Sintulus, a reckoning with 
you. Behold a hypocrite, the more despicable 
because a soldier! This afternoon I heard him 
say he would rise to fame on the blighted name 
of Placidus. {Draiving near.'\ Sintulus, I had re- 
solved when I heard this false speech to let this 
poniard taste thy worthless blood ; but here, in the 
presence of our divine Emperor, whom every sol- 
dier loves, and for the honor of the military 
grade you bear, I will give you a chance for your 
life. \TlLrozus off cloak; shows himself to be Rifiis 
fully armed. Drazving szvord.'] Draw your sword, 
coward, and save while you can the life that is 
not worth keeping ! 

Trajan. Give it to him, noble Rufus ; put the 
silence of death on his lying tongue. 

\They fight ; furious fencing. SiNTULUS lets 
szvord suddenly fall, etc. Tableau: Ru- 
FUS zvith foot on chest. Szvord lifted about 
to cut off head. Curtain falls.'] 



36 The Double Triumph, 



ACT II. 

Scene i. — A garden, fiozvcr pots, etc. Sumnier' 
house at one corner. In the sumnier-Jwuse 
an old man leaning on a small table, appa- 
rently asleep, dressed poorly as a gardener. He 
is supposed to have a vision, ivJdch may be repre- 
sented by a series of tableaux vivants, by squall 
apartment in centre scene as in First Act. The 
First Tableau will be the garde?ter. A fac- 
simile in get lip. Stands in the act of astonish- 
ment in recognizing two Roman soldiers ; they 
too zvith hands ?//, in act of recognition ; soft 
mnsic. TABLEAU II. Two yonngme^i are stand- 
ing before a number of soldiers defying them to 
pass. Tableau III. Placidus is standing 
between these two youths, and coming, as in the 
act of recognition, a female. TABLEAU IV. 
The Martyrdom of PLACIDUS, as represented in 
last scene. N.B. — TJiese tableaux are very simple 
and produce a very marked effect. They are not 
so difficult as at first may be imagined. The 
tableaux should be managed by small children, who 
are simply trained to keep the 07ie position. At 
the commencement, a pretty cJiild, dressed to re- 
present an angel, bearing a little zvand, steals 
over and looks into summer-house ; waves both 



The Double Triumph. 2>7 

hands gracefully over the sleeping gardener, then 
repairs to centre of stage, and orders visions, 
zvithout speaking, to appear. Must be moving 
about from summer-house to tableaux ; smiling, 
lively^ etc. In case the above tableaux vivants are 
found to be too difficult, the scene may be per- 
formed zvithout tJiem. Gardener, wliose name is 
HORTENSUS, rises from his reclining position, 
and commences to zvater some flozuers. Pauses 
over a passion-flozver ; takes one in his Jiand. 

Hortensus. Ah ! tiny monitor, thou preachest an 
eloquent sermon. Why wreathe thy beauty with 
these mysterious emblems of sorrow? In thy pe- 
tals radiant with gold and purple we read conso- 
lation ! They remind us that it is our privilege ra- 
ther than punishment to follow in the steps of 
the King whose insignia of royalty were the 
thorns, the nails, the cross ! For fifteen years, 
with widowed heart and moistened eye, thy blos- 
som has cheered me, and, now that you are burst- 
ing again into bloom, I feel thou whisperest a 
feeling stronger than resignation, for, like thee, 
my hopes are bursting from the leaves around 
them, and ere long will bloom in the realization 
of my joy ! 

[ A voice is heard outside calling HORTEN- 
SUS. 

Master. Hortensus ! 



.38 The Double Triumphs 

Hortensus. Coming, master ! 

S^Mccts master ivitJioitt leavtitg stage. Master 
dressed as Indian planter. 

Master. Hortens ! how are the fuchsias getting 
on. They looked so drooping \'esterday I feared 
my darHng long-tongued pink belles would have 
collapsed and — and died ! {Affeetedl}). 

Hortensus. The warm breezes that blew from 
Sahara dried them up, but this morning they are 
better. 

Master. You seem very partial to those pas- 
sion-flowers ; you are always watching them, and 
I have frequently seen tears in your eyes as you 
stood over them. 

Hortensus. Yes, worthy master ! they remind 
me of great mysteries ; that tiny flower distils a 
balm over my sorrow- stricken heart ; its nails, its 
wounds, its beautiful crown ! 

{Seizes a passion-flower again, and remains 
gazing on it fixedly. 

Master. Hortens, I have often thought of ask- 
ing why a cloud seems ever to hang over your 
thoughts ; for years that you are now in my ser- 
vice you have never smiled. Your education, 
the gentility of your manners, and your fidelity 
so noble make me think, Hortens, you have seen 
better days. What stroke of fortune has forced 
thee to seek sustenance in menial employment ? 



The Double Triumph, 39 

Hortensus. Kind master, the Power that has 
marked the course of the stars has shaped the 
destinies of men ; he has been pleased to try 
me with deep affliction. 

Master, Tell me, then, the cause of thy afflic 
tion. 

Hortensus. Thy words bespeak sympathy ; lis- 
ten to the tale of a heart-broken father — torn by 
destiny from his wife, his children, and his coun- 
try I I am a Roman citizen and a soldier of for- 
tune ! \_Master starts.'] In the Judaic wars I won 
my sword under Titus ; the Emperor gave me 
the command of a division of horse. Fortune 
then made a toy of me — raising me to the high- 
est honors, and then casting me down with vio- 
lence from the giddy heights of my pride. By 
fortune, good master, I mean not the dark sys- 
tem of fatalism worshipped under this name in 
pagan mythology — I mean the paternal provi- 
dence of Him who counts the hairs of our heads, 
wdio causes the tide of human vicissitude to ebb 
and flow — now in the storm, now in the calm. 
After my return from the Judaic wars, I was 
called in an extraordinary way to the knowledge 
of the Christian religion. That Spirit which il- 
lumined my soul with supernatural light cast me 
into the furnace of sorrow. My crucible is still; 
heated, for Heaven knows there is still dross in. 
my sinful nature. Some unseen power destroyed. 



40 The Double Triumph, 

my villas, my castle, my honor, and cast me, with 
n young wife and two infants, on a sea of misfor- 
tune, fallen, penniless, ruined. S^Becomes abstract- 
id for a momoit.'] To avoid the taunts of false 
friends and the indignation of the Emperor, I fled 
iit night towards Ostia. I found a small craft 
about to sail for these shores. With difficulty I 
secured a passage, but an evil spirit entered the 
heart of the captain. When we came in sight of 
land, the captain — whose crime Heaven forgive — 
put me and my two boys in a small boat and sent 
us on shore. He immediately set sail under a 
fair wind, tearing from me the only solace that 
was left me in the dark hour of my trial. 

[ Buries his face in his hands and weeps. 

Master. Thy story is a strange one ; thy cup 
indeed bitter; but go on, old man — I long to 
hear the end of thy extraordinary history. 

Hortenstis. I clasped my little ones to my 
breast, and, remembering my promise to the 
Spirit that revealed itself to me in the Apennines, 
I penetrated this lonely and deserted country in 
search of labor and food, but other trials awaited 
me. On the third day I came to a deep and 
rapid river. I could not take the two children 
with me across the stream, and arranged to bring 
one first, then return for the other. Scarcely had 
1 reached the opposite bank with the youngest, 
when the screams of the other called me to see 



The Double Trmmph. 41 

him carried away in the mouth of a Hon. I 
plunged into the seething torrent again to hasten 
to his rescue — a father's love would fight the 
king of animals in his own forest ! 

Master. Did you save the child ? 

Horteiisus. Alas ! my wearied arms faintly bat- 
tled with the torrent a moment, and the lion dis- 
appeared. I plunged into the forest, and heard 
again the cries of a child calling for help ; but 
they came from the other side of the river — my 
youngest child was seized by a wolf. \_Wceps.\ 
Blame not my tears, good gentle sir, for day and 
night those scenes are passing before my tortured 
brain. In my dreams I hear their last pitiful 
cries for help ; like the colors of a landscape that 
blend in a picture, the desert, the torrent, and 
the forest shade dissolve from o\\^ another into a 
deep-blue sea, tossing on its restless bosom the 
white sails of a guilty craft. 

Master. A stranger tale I never have heard ; 
thou must have a stout heart, Hortens. Were thy 
lot mine, I should have long since driven a po- 
niard to my heart's blood. In the regions of Pluto 
I would war against the gods ; but tell me, hast 
thou ever heard of thy wife ? Dost thou hope to 
meet her again ? 

Hortensiis. This morning when kneeling in 
yonder summer-house, I heard a whisper as if 
from some gentle guardian spirit ; it poured a 



42 The Double Triump.h, 

balm on my troubled heart, and bade me look 
for the daylight that should follow my night of 
trial. This is the sad anniversary of my loss, and 
I am now in the hands of a high destiny, sum- 
moned by Him who maketh use of the little 
things of this world to confound the strong. 

[ Remains looking toivards heaven absorbed in 
prayer. In the meantime^ tzvo Roman sol- 
diers enter L. C, engaged in conversation. 
RUFUS in same dress. Eggeus. The same 
two that appeared in first scene. HORTEN- 
SUS looking up recognizes RUFUS. Starts ; 
but remains incog. 

Rufus. I tell you, Eggeus, I am sick and tired 
of this useless search. To-morrow I will return 
to Rome. 

Master. Who are those strangers? What a 
curious dress? Whence come these people? 

Eggeus. See, Rufus, there are persons here ; 
let us ask them if they know anything of the 
general. 

Rufus [advancing']. Gentlemen, excuse our in- 
trusion, but we come on important business from 
the Emperor. [HORTENSUS starts.] Know you 
of a man named Placidus in these regions? 

Hortensus. Why seek you Placidus ? Are you 
blood-hounds sent on the track of some hapless 
victim of imperial wrath ? 



The Double Triumph. 43 

Rufus [aside]. I know that voice ; those 
haughty tones and majestic mien. [Turning to- 
wards HORTENSUS.] Sir, I should be the last 
man in the empire to be a blood-hound on the 
track of the great Placidus. We seek him, not 
to drag him to torture, nor to gratify with his 
murder any imperial revenge. We wish to put 
him once more at the head of the veteran legions 
of the empire. War has been proclaimed in the 
provinces. The troops are marshalling in the 
capital, but there is no one to lead them to bat- 
tle. It was reported in Rome that Placidus is 
Stiri alive, and the troops proclaim they will not 
serve under any other commander. The Emperor 
has promised a large reward to any one who will 
find out his retreat. The veterans who have served 
under him have gone in search to all the pro- 
vinces. I, Rufus, who have borne his flag in the 
thickest of the fight, have sought him sorrowing 
through the parched plains and scanty villages of 
this miserable country. [HORTENSUS betraying 
great excitement.] Sir, your excitement seems to 
betray the knowledge of the great General. I 
command you, in the name of the Emperor, to 
point out his whereabouts, that we may commu- 
nicate to him the glad tidings we bear. 

Hortensus [abstracted]. From solitude to the 
din and clash of war ! From obscurity to the 
laurels of the conqueror! Like sunrise on the 



44 The Double Triumph. 

darkened plains, the end intimated in prophetic 
whispers is bursting on my widowed heart in the 
realization of protracted hope. To arms! to tri 
umph ! the safety of the empire will be to me a 
Double Triumph! \Turnijig towards RUFUS.] 
Thou art a soldier, stranger. Hast thou not won 
some scars in fighting for thy country ? 

Rufus. Yes ; by the side of our brave General 
I was wounded in the Judaic wars. 

Hortensus {showing cuts on arm, etc.'] Dost 
thou not see these scars? \_A moment's paiise^ 
then very loud.] Rufus ! 

Rufus. Placid us I 

[Tableau. Curtain falls. 



Scene 2. — Scene in Arabia. Tent. Placidus jz'/- 
ting on camp-stool at a small table. Near him 
Rufus. A sentinel walking up and down in rear. 
Conversation between Placidus and RuFUS. 

Placidus. How goeth the night-watch, Rufus ; 
has the sun yet broken through the clouds on the 
horizon? 

Rufus. Not yet, General ; but the moon is 
bright. 

Placidus. I don't like our position near these 
mountains, Rufus, and we will change the first 



The Double Triumph, 45 

thing by daylight. Just now I heard a deep, 
rumbling sound like the distant tread of horses. 

Rufus. When last I went around, all was safe. 
I heard the noise you speak of, but our Arab 
guide told me it was but the roar of the sea, 
which is not many leagues away. Not trusting 
this Arab slave, I have doubled the sentry guard. 
One of our scouts yesterday suspected treachery, 
and bade me tell you. 

Placidus. It is well, Rufus ! I remember me 
well how thy caution saved the Roman army un- 
der the battlements of Jerusalem. Forty winters 
have cast their snows on thy brow since then ; 
yet thou hast not lost the fire of thy heart, nor 
the keenness of thine eye. 

Riifus. When I was a pagan, good General, I 
knew of no god but my sword ; I cared for no 
glory but that won in the carnage of the battle- 
field ; I knew of no restraint but self-will; but 
since you made me a Christian, my actions are 
guided by a higher sphere of thought ; I believe 
the greatest glory and the highest honor is the 
discharge of duty. 

Placidus. Good, Rufus ! Thou art as zealous in 
the young faith as thou are brave in thy veteran 
courage. 

Rufus. What is the bravery of a soldier who 
has thousands ready to die with him in the ar- 
dor of battle, compared to the bravery of the de- 



46 The Double Triumph. 

fenceless Christians who voluntarily met death 
in its worst forms for the faith of Christ ! I was 
present when Ignatius was devoured by the lions 
in the Coliseum ; I saw gentle youths and tender 
virgins fearlessly await a similar doom, and, 
though yet a pagan, I longed for the glory of a 
death like theirs. 

Placidus. Heaven will grant it to thee I {Praii)- 
ing near, makes some friendly gesture ; e. g., the 
hand on his shoulder.'] Rufus, I had long wished 
for an opportunity to tell thee a secret commit- 
ted to me by Heaven. As it has been mine to 
lead you on in the battles of the empire, it 
will be mine also to lead you to the scaffold of 
martyrdom. The sun of our career is fast setting 
on the troubled sea of time ; the brilliancy of its 
sunset shall live in the memory of man longer 
than the fame of our conquests. The marble 
mausoleums of the pagan heroes shall long have 
crumbled to dust ; the empire itself shall have 
disappeared, bearing but the memory of its mag- 
nificence, like the meteor that passes through the 
dark midnight sky; yea, the earth, the sun, the 
myriad worlds of the starry firmament, shall glide 
with a rapidity of thought to the dread chaos of 
original nothingness ; but we shall ever be young 
in immortal youth, unhurt amid the war of 
elements, the wreck of matter, and the crash 
of worlds. Our souls, redeemed by the blood 



The Double Triumph, 47 

of a God, are made heirs to an eternal king- 
dom. 

S^A cry of ''^ To arms! " ^^ To arms! " is heard 
outside. R. C. Sivords clasJi^ trumpets sound, 
drums beat, and commands given by loud 
voices. RUFUS rusJies out. Placidus 
seizes battle-axe a?td describes iv/iat is pass- 
ing. 

Placidus \loud\ On, brave soldiers, on ! {^Speak- 
ing to himself.'] Haste, Rufus, to the rescue ! 
Those noble youths ! They fight like heroes ! 
The Pretorians are up ! He has fallen ! Victory 
is ours now ! They run ! Thanks to the God 
of armies! Trumpeter! {Looking to the other 
side.] Sound a recall! Victory does not de- 
mand the useless and cruel shedding of blood. 

{Enter TRUMPETER and plays a beautiful 
military call. RUFUS, out of breatJi and 
zvithout helmety rushes in, 

Rufus. We were in a snare, but we have gained 
a bloody victory — due to the bravery of two Nu- 
midian youths who stood alone against the whole 
brunt of the enemy in the mountain pass. With 
giant stroke they wielded their battle-axes, and 
felled the enemy like saplings in a forest. I came 
up with a division of horse just as their strength 
was failing; but I fear they are sadly wounded. 

Placidus. Bring hither those noble youtlis. Let 



48 The Double Triumph, 

me tell them the gratitude of an army they have 
saved, and an empire they have honored. \^Lays 
down his battle-axe. Puts on military cloak. Paces 
stage. Suddenly stops. Sees youths coming?^ Ah ! 
young, beardless boys ! How noble — how hand- 
some ! O my children ! would you not be like 
those noble youths, had propitious destiny spared 
you ! \_Ejiter tzuo youths^ military dress^ bandaged, 
covered with blood, leaning on the arms of others. 
RUFUS supporting one. They carry battle-axes, 
also covered zvith blood. PlacidUS advancing to- 
zvards them.^ Brave youths ! the empire owes 
you a great debt. Your bravery has saved thy 
companions in arms from foul treachery. Hence- 
forth you must bear the rank of captain, and the 
friendship of thy General. Rufus, see to those 
gallant youths. I shall haste to the battle-field 
to stay unnecessary bloodshed, and prepare the 
march from this luckless mountain pass. 

[^Exit L. C. 
Rufus, Be seated, young men. You are weak. 
{Opens flask, pours out wine.] Drink to your vic- 
tory ! and may Heaven give you many such 
glories ! I felt all day yesterday we would soon 
have some fighting. I saw a cloud on the brow of 
that Arab guide. In his bronze features I read 
treachery and deceit ; but how came you to be 
the first to see the enemy, and to be so close to 
hand at the pass ? 



The Double Triumph. 49 

Imogen [the eldest']. Kind Captain I yesterday 
evening when the sun was setting, my friend and 
I were strolling outside the camp, whiling away 
our time with tales of boyhood adventures, when 
suddenly we heard a rustling in the bushes near 
me. I drew my fleetest arrow and expected some 
startled doe to spring from its cover; another 
moment and it quivered in the heart of our Arab 
guide — the wretch who acted as our guide yes- 
terday. Knowing he had come out on some foul 
mission of treachery, we watched to see if any 
caitiff would come to receive the message of this 
traitor. Night came on, and in the pale light of 
the moon we saw the swarthy figure of an Asiatic 
soldier glide from tree to tree and stealthily ap- 
proach the Arab's hiding-place. Our trusty shafts 
drank his blood, but the wretch when dying gave 
a shrill whistle. We knew the enemy were at 
hand. We remained in the pass as sentries to 
give timely warning to the camp, and foil the 
treachery of cowards and slaves ! 

Ruftis. How noble ! how like the deeds of 
Roman heroes I Your names, young men, shall 
be bright on the pages of history. You must be 
descendants of Jugurtha or Hannibal, since you 
come from their country. 

Imogen. No, kind Rufus. 1, at least, am not a 
Jugurtha, nor yet am I a descendant of that brave 
General whose offspring even to this day swear 



50 The Double Triumph, 

hostility to the Roman Empire. You judge 
wrongly, Rufus, when you say I belong to the 
nation that was crushed by Scipio. Although 
here in the garb of a Numidian soldier, I have 
noble blood in my veins, and proudly call my- 
self a Roman citizen ! 

" A Roman citizen ! " \_Rufus and Far fax to- 
gether?^ 

Ritfus \aside\ A Roman citizen ! Of noble 
blood ! Yet a common soldier in the Numidian 
corps. Perhaps the pain of his wounds has 
affected his head. He must surely be raving. 

Imogen. My wounds are not so severe, Rufus, 
and my tongue is not so false ; there can be no 
true greatness where there is deception. 

Riifits. But say, what cruel circumstances have 
reduced a Roman citizen to be a mercenary in a 
Numidian corps? 

Imogen. Spare me that word mercenary, for 
when thou hast heard my history thou wilt see 
that other motives besides gain have made me 
carry the axe and quiver of the swarthy and 
cunning Numidian. I promised Farfax I would 
tell him to-day some strange accounts of my 
childhood. Give me, and listen to a strange 
story. \He drinks, and the others seated draw near 
ki7n.'\ My father was a soldier of fortune. By 
his bravery in the Judaic wars he was raised by 



The Double Triumph. 51 

the Emperor to the command of a division of 
horse. [RUFUS starts?^ 

Rufus. A master of horse ? 

Imogen. Yes. 

Rufiis. In the Roman army? 

Imogen. Yes. 

Riifns. By Trajan 1 

Imogen. Yes. 

Rnfus. Imogen — but go on ; perhaps I am 
mistaken ; but a strange suspicion is the harbin- 
ger of great joy. 

Imogen. After the Judaic wars peace reigned in 
the empire, and my father lived in great wealth. 
One day he went to hunt, but came home late — 
he spoke of some strange adventure — he brought 
us to the Catacombs that night. A young man 
dressed in patrician costume met us in the street, 
and acted as our guide. We were brought 
through long subterranean passages to a small 
chapel beautifully lit up ; the walls v/ere covered 
by m3/sterious paintings, and a venerable old man 
with silvery beard sat in a stone chair. The old 
man seemed to know my father; he spoke some 
things that made my parents cry. We then 
passed through some ceremonies, by which I know 
I was made a CHRISTIAN. 

Rufus. Each word falls like a drop into the 
vessel of my heart ; it will overflow before he has 
finished his tale. 



52 The Double Triumph, 

Imogen. Soon after this my father met with 
great adversity ; his flocks died ; his villas were 
burnt ; he was persecuted by the Emperor, and 
one night, taking me and my mother and little 
brother, three years of age, he fled from Rome 
towards the port of Ostia. The captain of a 
craft about to sail to Africa gave us a passage ; but 
he was a cruel, bad man, for when we came in sight 
of land he sent my father and my brother and my- 
self on shore, and set sail again, bearing away my 
poor mother, whom I have never seen since. 
S^Burics J lis face in his hands ^ andzveeps for a mo- 
ment?^ I will never forget how my father wept, 
pointing with his trembling finger to the white 
speck the vessel had made on the blue horizon, and, 
clasping me to his breaking heart, said, " Your 
mother is gone with a stranger." Praying for 
strength to the God of the Christians, he sprang 
up, brushed away the tears, and took us with him 
into the country. We came up to a stream very 
deep and strong, and father, seeing he could not 
take both of us over together, left me on the 
bank whilst he swam across with my brother ; he 
had just reached the other bank when out jumped 
an enormous lion from the trees, and took me in 
his great jaws and carried me into the forest. 

Far fax. O Imogen ! I have something to tell 
you when you are done ; but how were you 
saved ? 



The Dtuble Triumph, 53 

Imogen. Some shepherds seeing me in the 
lion's mouth set their dogs after him ; irritated 
by the dogs, the lion dropped me from his mouth, 
and took one of them instead. The shepherds 
took me to their house, and a good woman nursed 
me, for my side was all torn by the lion's teeth. 
I lived for fifteen years with these people. War 
being proclaimed in the East, I joined the forces, 
in the hope of getting back to Rome to find 
again my father and mother ; but Heaven knows 
where they are now. 

Rufiis. Noble youth, thy father still lives. 
[Imogen rises^ 

Imogen. O Rufus ! say if he returned to Rome ; 
if old age and sorrow have made him a feeble 
wreck of manhood; if he is in want; if — 

Rufus. He will answer for himself before sun- 
set. I shall be the first to tell thy father of his 
joy. \^Exit. 

Farfax. O Imogen ! stay one moment. 

Imogen. I must hurry, for Rufus seems to know 
my father ; he is alive ; he is in the camp. 

Farfax. "Whilst you were telHng your story my 
heart was bursting to interrupt you to tell you 
that I believe I am your brother. 

Imogen. Say how — are we in a dream ? 

Farfax. I, too, am a Roman citizen and a 
Christian. I, too, was saved from a wild beast on 
the batiks of the Chobar ; the people who saved 



54 The Doitble Triumph. 

me told me I was a Roman, and gave me this 
medal, which they said they found around my 
neck, and by it I know I am a Christian. 

\^D7'aws out medal. 

hnogcn. Show it ; has it got on it the figure of 
the cross and the Ides of March ? 

Far fax. Yes; here it is! 

Imogen [seizing it, looking at it fixedly, draivs 
another from his bosom']. The medals the Pope 
gave us the night we were baptized. My brother 
Agapius ! 

[They embrace. Tableau. Curtain falls. 



Scene 3. — The same. Tent in Arabia. Placidus 
embracing his two cJiildren. 

Placidus. My children ! my children ! [Pauses 
awhile, and then looks affectionately on them.] 
Thrice this morning I felt some gentle spirit tun- 
ir.g the fibres of my heart for the music of joy ! 
Yes, beautiful, brave Christian ! Wert thou 
.ilive, Stella, how thou wouldst gaze with rap- 
ture on thy noble sons ! 

Imogen. Say, father, is mother really dead, or 
dost thou but fear that a broken heart brought 
her an early tomb ? 

Placidus. Alas ! I fear the worst ; but whilst 



The Double Triumph. 55 

yet I tread this valley of sorrow I hope again 
to meet thy mother, boy ! This very morning 
the vision ^hat passed before my soul placed 
thy mother in the embrace of her two sons. 

Imogen {^passionately]. Father, I shall travel 
the world till I find her, and if the wretch who 
tore her from thee still contaminate the earth 
of God, I shall steep my sword in his guilty 
blood ! 

Placidus. Hold, my child ! Such language ill 
becomes a Christian. When young blood flowed 
in my veins, I could not sleep on an insult, but I 
have now learned to love and practise the sweet 
law of Him who has commanded us to love our 
enemies. I have long since forgiven that wicked 
man, who was but an instrument in the hands of 
Providence to try me in the crucible of misfor- 
tune. 

Imogen, Such virtue, father, seems to me 
nobler than the qualities that make ' heroes seek 
the front of battle. 

Placidus. Imogen, that law is divine, not hu- 
man. When you were made a Christian on that 
strange night which marks an epoch in the me- 
mories of your childhood, you insensibly im- 
bibed the golden stream of grace which nerves 
the soul to acts of self-denial, which is of a higher 
order than military courage. The soul is yet 
dimmed by a passing cloud. Yet a few days, and 



56 The Double Triumph . 

that soul will burst from its tenement of clay, like 
the rose from its bud, with the crimson effulgence 
of a Christian triumph. [/$• abstracted for a mo- 
ment, and looks towards heaven.'] A triumph, Imo- 
gen, thou little dreamest of now ! 

{^Shouts are heard in the distance. All start 
and look in the direction, 

Placidns. What mean those shouts? Is Rufus 
here ? He is sure to know what is the matter. 

Imogen. See, Rufus is running towards us. I 
am sure he has some good news to communi- 
cate. See how the dear old captain runs. Who 
is the stranger with him. There is surely some- 
thing up. 

\_Eftter Rufus and Courier bearing des- 
patches. Courier's pants stuffed into boots 
all covered with mud ; leather bag, etCy 
horn, etc, 

Placidus. Say, Rufus, what is the matter? 
Those shouts ; your excitement. What has hap- 
pened ? 

Rufus. Good General, there is a courier from 
Rome. The Emperor is dead, and the army re- 
called. This courier has despatches for you. 

[Courier kneels and hands large letters to 
Placidus. 

■ Placidus \_reads\ "■ It has pleased the gods to 



The Double Triumph, 57 

raise us to the throne of the Empire. We de- 
cree a triumph to the army of Placidus, and com- 
mand our General to return forthwith to the 
Capitol. 

*' (Signed), Adrian." 

Ptacidus {looking at the despatch.'] Strange 
news ! sad news ! nay, glad news ! Thou art 
setting, thou brilliant sun of my hopes ; those 
grand destinies foreshadowed in prophetic whis- 
pers are gliding inco realities. Ay ! to Rome, 
to triumph ! to martyrdom ! \ Remains abstracted. 
Starting suddenly^ Give orders to strike the 
tents, Rufus, we march by dayhght ; go, Imogen 
and Farfax, and superintend the preparations for 
the march. \Exeiint. 

Placidus \alone, and ivalkillg up and deivn the 
stage.} Ay ! to triumph ; to step from the golden 
chariot to the tomb ; to climb the glittering 
heights of the Capitol amid the shouts that rend 
the heavens with blasphemies against my God ; 
to kindle the fires of impure sacrifice to the de- 
mons of idolatry. Rather shall Placidus be cast 
on the burning pile and be himself the victim ! 
In the dreams of my misguided ambition I 
coveted the honor now within my grasp, but in 
the light of the higher destiny that follows 'tis 
but a beautiful shadow that floats before the in- 
fatuated fancy like gilded bubbles on the stream 



58 The- Double Triumph, 

that break into thin air when we attempt 
to seize them. My children, will you drink of 
my cup ? Will you ride in the same chariot till 
we reach the atrium of the temple of Jupiter, 
then be bound to the same stake, till the flames 
of tlie funeral pyre send our liberated spirits to 
the land of eternal triumph, where the shout of 
real joy shall ring out the congratulation of 
Heaven's choirs for our Christian victory ? Poor 
Stella ! thy noble soul is still wanting to com- 
plete the holocaust ! Art thou pining away in 
some villain's home ? 

Perchance you died in youth, it may be bowed 
With woe far heavier than the ponderous tomb 
That weighs upon thy gentle dust — a cloud 
Might gather o'er thy beauty, and a gloom 
In thy dark eye prophetic of the gloom 
Heaven gives its favorites — early death. 

Enter RUFUS. 

Rtiftis. General, the poor woman on whose 
ground you have pitched your tent wishes to 
speak to you. 

Placidus. Say, Rufus, I wish to be left alone. 
If she wants money, take her this purse. 

{Exit with purse. PLACIDUS paces up and 
down. RuFUS returns. 

Rufus. Sire, this old woman says she does not 



The Double Triumph, 59 

want money [returns purse] ; but begs an inter- 
view for a moment. 

Placidus, Then see her in, Rufus. 

\_Eiiter female, deeply veiled. 

Female [^kneeling]. Great General of the Ro- 
man arms ! will compassion move thee to pity a 
broken-hearted widow ? 

Placidus. 'Tis the privilege of those in power 
to protect the poor. Speak, good woman ; has 
any one done aught to harm or injure thee? 

Female. Permit me, I beseech you, to go, un- 
der your protection, to the land of my birth ! 
I am a Roman matron ! I was brought here 
for unlawful purposes, but I swear by the God 
who sees my innocence that I have never lost 
my fidelity to my husband. This day fifteen 
years ago I was torn from him by violence — 

[Placidus starts several times. At these last 
words turns round to hide corifusion. Fe- 
male rises suddenly. Throws back veilj and 
with much vehemence : 

Female. Can it be ? Do my senses deceive 
me ? {Rushes partly towards hiin.] Say, art thou 
Placidus, the commander of the horse, who was 
converted in the Apennines ; whose wife — 



6 3 The Double Trhimph. 

Placidus. Yes — yes I knowest thou of her ? 
{^Recognizes her ; cries aloud — ] Stella ! 
Female. PI acid us ! 

[Tableau. /;/ act of approaching to embrace. 
Curtain falls. 



Scene 4. — The Atrium of the temple of Jupiter 
on the Capitol at Rome. EMPEROR sitting on 
throne in porch. Procession of triumph passes 
before him. Children fantastically dressed, 
bearing spoils of conquered people ; some are 
carrying large bouquets of flowers. Dancing. 
Lively music. Small chariots draivn by goats 
may appear, etc. Get-up ad libitum. The last 
in the procession, PLACID US — if possible in 
chariot, gilt, drawn by pony, etc. Near EMPE- 
ROR an idol, a pan of incense, and a lamb covered 
tvith flozvers, and vestal virgin. The high-priest. 
Placid'US advancing to the Emperor's throne. 
Courtiers cry out : 

" Hail, Conqueror, hail I " 

Placidus {pres editing parchment tied with red 
tape']. Behold, Emperor, the map of thy extend- 
ed territories ! 

Emperor. The gods have been propitious to 



The Double Triumph. 6i 

our arms, noble Placidus. Thy country has just- 
ly decreed for thee the greatest of honors. Ac- 
cept the crown of victory given only to the 
bravest of the brave. \A vestal virgin. A little 
girl dressed in white ; advances, and, receiving 
croivii from EMPEROR, //(^6T.y it on the head of PLA- 
CIDUS.] Placidus, arise ! the second place in the 
empire is thine henceforth, together with thy 
noble sons, of whose bravery we have heard so 
much. You must live in our golden house. After 
the hardships of the campaign you should now 
enjoy the luxuries of your wealth and the splen- 
dors of your fame. And now [rising], brave 
General, let us proceed to offer sacrifice to 
Jupiter and Mars, who have been so pro- 
pitious to the Roman arms ! [PLACIDUS re- 
mains motionless in pensive mood. EMPEROR 
turning suddenly ronnd.] What, dost thou refuse 
to follow ? Are, then, the rumors of the people 
and the accusations of the high-priest true? 
\Aloud and advancing?^ Placidus, dost thou re- 
fuse to do sacrifice to the gods of the empire — 
to Jupiter who rules the destinies of man, and 
given thee thy victories ? 

Placidus. Emperor ! send me to the ends of 
the world, to deepen rivers with the blood of thy 
enemies ; let me lead thy armies to the icy North, 
or to the parched plains of thy African posses- 
sions ; command my sword, my wealth, my life ; 



62 The Double Triumph, 

but to bow to painted idols ; to sacrifice to the 
demons of evil that hold the world in the thral- 
dom of eternal perdition, I refuse ! 

Emperor. What infatuation has seized thee, 
Placidus ? Callest thou our gods demons of evil? 
Dost thou not know I have power to force thee 
to sacrifice ? 

Placidus. I am perfectly aware thou hast no 
power but that which is given to thee from above 
by Him who created all things. Thy power, 
Emperor, is no greater than the power of the 
marble effigy thou callest Jupiter. He who alone 
is great could give life to the statue, as he has 
given it to thy body of clay. 

Emperor. Dost thou say our noble person is 
made of clay ? Has the pride of thy victories 
made thee insolent ? Who is the God of whom 
thou speakest with so much infatuation ? Is he 
the same that was crucified ? 

Placidus. Yes ! in a mystery beyond the com- 
prehen.jion of man, our God was crucified ! 

Emperor. Placidus, art thou a Christian ? 

Placidus. Yes, thank Heaven, though unwor- 
thy of the great name. 

High-Priest. " The Christians to the lions ! " 

All. '' Away with the Christians ! " 

Emperor. Placidus, thy old age, thy bravery, 
thy merits, make me pity thy infatuation. Sacri- 
fice to our immortal Jove, or by our piety I will 



The Double Triiiniph. 63 

-tear thy laurels from thy brow, cast thee into a 
loathsome prison, and have thee die a miserable 
death like thy crucified God ! 

Placidus. Delay not to execute thy threats. 
My soul yearneth for the Cross ! for death ! for 
liberty ! Let others enjoy the fleeting shadows 
of earthly triumph ! Give me death for Christ, 
and you crown me with a DOUBLE TRIUMPH ! 

Emperor \_angr)P\, Thou shall have it, then. 
Seize him, lictors ! Prepare a scourge for this 
Christian ! 

[Imogen rusJies in front with drazvn sword. 
Farfax also draws sword. Standing be- 
tween tJiem and PLACID US. 

Imogen. Dare you touch my father ! 

Placidus \advancing\. My son ! put back thy 
sword ! If thou lovest me, let them shackle me ! 
Why stand between me and the crown I have 
sighed for ? ^'^Riishes towards lictors. Places his 
hands in the chains. To Emperor — ] Now, ty- 
rant, do thy worst ! Wreak thy vengeance on 
this aged body, and free a captive spirit that 
longs for the freedom of the skies. 

Imogen \^ flinging down his sword with great 
jioise]. Father, I will die with thee. I, too, am a 
Christian I [Moves towards him.'] 

Farfax. So am I I [And moves towards him,] 

Stella, And I believe in Jesus Christ ! 



64 The Double Triumph, 

{They are bound with ropes. Attendants cry 

out : 

'' Death to the Christians ! " 

\High-priest louder than others. In the same 
time a trumpet sounds outside. A COURIER 
rushes in. 

Courier. A message from the camp ! 

[RUFUS enters^ fully armed. Standing in 
amazement at Placidus and family bound. 

Rufus. Brave General I has it come to this ? 
Say but a word, and a legion of thy veterans will 
put this tyrant in thy place, and make you their 
king ! 

Emperor. Who are you, insolent soldier, that 
darest trifle with our commands and speakest 
treason in our presence ? 

Rufus. 'Tis Rufus, the Christian soldier, and 
Captain of the Banner Guard, come to tell thee 
there is a mutiny in the army. They have heard 
of your unjust treatment of our General, and the 
murmur of ten thousand indignant soldiers rolls 
with threatening thunder around thy golden 
house. They will burn it to the ground and 
roast thee in its flames ! 

Placidus. Rufus, cool thy anger. By the hope 
that raises us from earth to eternity ; by the 



The Double Triumph. 65 

faith that sustains us ; by the hardships we have 
borne together for forty years, permit me, I be- 
seech you, to finish the mockery of human tri- 
umph by the immolation of myself at the altar 
of truth. {Changes tone, anei empJiatically?^ Ru- 
fus ! another battle awaits thee. Prepare thy- 
self and the Christian soldiers of thy legion to 
follow us in a few days ! 

Emperor \in a rage']. Seize the traitor ! 

[Some guards rush toivards RUFUS, who sud- 
denly turns around, and with stentorian 
voice, and hand on siuord, cries : 

** Back, slaves ! " [Slowly retiring^ Farewell, 
Placidus ; we meet again ! 

[Slaves remain, afraid to advance. 

Emperor. Cowardly dogs! I shall have thee 
hung by the heels before a slow fire. Lead those 
Christians to the stake instantly ! Away ! 

[Emperor remains in position with hand 
stretched out. Soldiers and lictors form 
guard around Christians, zvho move with 
slow step — some seconds between each step. 
Curtain is falling. 



66 The Double Truimph, 

Last Scene. — A scene in the Palatine Garden. 
Lights lozvered. In centre of stage a raised 
platform^ on ivJiicli a stake. To this stake or 
board erect is tied Placidus ; on either side. Ids 
wife and two children. Logs of neiuly cut ivood 
placed aronnd the pile and against the CHRIS- 
TIANS, A strong light cast on them by mirror 
from above. Guards, rougJi-looking soldiers, just 
finishing preparations to burn the CHRISTIANS. 
Guards around in file. One of the executioners 
sets fire to the pile. This is done by handfuls 
of incense thrown on a pan of coals concealed un- 
der the logs of zvood. The smoke will give the 
appearance of fire. When the smoke has got 
thick^ a noise of tramping is heard outside. Ru- 
FUS a?id several Christian soldiers oiter to save 
Placidus. Pagans and Christians fight. TA- 
BLEAU. Whilst fighting, RUFUS beats two an- 
tagonists — leaps up on the pile — C2its the ropes 
that bind PLACIDUS, but finds him dead. Ru- 
FUS, holding the dead body of PLACIDUS in his 
arms, pointing with Ids szvord to heaven. Chris- 
tian soldiers each standing over his fallen anta- 
gonist. Red lights^ thunder^ etc. Curtain falls. 



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I?IAI.X: CHARACTERS. 

The Inrisible Hand. A Drama in Three Acts. By Mrs. J. Sadlier $o ?5 

The rider Brother. A Drama in Two Acts. By Mrs. J. Sadlier 025 

The Babbler A Drama in One Act By Mrs. J. Sadlier o 25 

Fatiiilj of Martyrs. A Drama in Four Acts. Translated trom the 

Italian ot Valle 060 

The Ohost. A Comedy in Three Acts. From the French o 50 

Hidden Oein. A Drama in Two Acts. By Cardinal Wiseman 150 

The Pliotograph. A Drama in One Act 015 

Rogueries of Scapiii. A Drama in One Act o 40 

Sebastian , or. The Roman Martyr. A Drama founded on Cardinal Wise- 
man's celebrated tale ot " Fabiola." By T. D. McGee 040 

St. Louis in Chains. A Drama in Five Acts u 40 

The Forty JIartyrs of Sebasti. A Drama in One Act 015 

The Deaf Mute. An Historical Drama in Four Acts o 50 

The Confessional Unmasked. Compiled from Shandy Maguire 040 

FEMALE CHARACTERS. 
Which is Which! or, The Fire of London. A Play in Three Acts. By 

Lady Geoj-giana FuUerton 025 

Gerniaine Cousin, The Shepherdess of Pibrac. In two parts. By Lady 

Georgi.uia FuUerton 025 

The Chinese 3Iother. A Drama in Three Acts 050 

CJiristnias Tree. A Drama for Christmas in One Act and Seven Scenes, o 25 

Julia ; or. The Gold Thimble. A Drama in One Act. By Mrs. J. Sadlier, o 25 

Lilia; or, The Test. A Drama in Two Acts 040 

The Orphan Sisters ; or. Pupils of the Common School. A Drama hi 

One Act 020 

The Secret. A Drama m One Act. By Mrs. J. Sadlier o 25 

Tiie Talisman. A Drama in One Act. By Mrs. J. Sadlier o 25 

Tlie Two Crowns. A Drama in One Act 040 

St. Helena; or, The Finding of the Holy Cross. A Drama in Three Acts, 030 

The Reverse tif the Mcdiil. A Drama in Four Acts o 25 

ErusciUr Hall. A Drama in Three Acts 025 

Filiola. A Drama in Four Acts '^ 25 

The Faculties of the Soul. From the French of Madime de Sto1z. A 
Drama in One Act and Three Scenes. Translated by Mrs James 

Sadlier ♦ "^ ^5 

MALE AND FEMALE CHARACTERS. 

Ciecilia. A Roman Drama. By Myron A. Cooney o 4c 

The expiation. A Drama in Three Acts. Translated by J. J. Kehoc, o 40 

Martyrdom of St. Cecily. A Drama in Two Acts o 25 

Vouthfiil Martyrs of Rome. A Christian Drama, adapted from 

• Fubiola." By the Very Rev. Canon Oakley 060 

Witc'i of Kosenburg. A Drama in Three Acts. By Cardinal Wiseman, 050 

Marcion, the Magician of Antioch. A Drama in Three Acts i o« 

EUie Laura; or. The Border Orphan. . A Drama. By Dr. OLeary. .. o 40 
Any of the above books will be sent, post-paiii, to any address on receipt 
ot the price. Address 

D. & J. SADLIER & CO., Publishers, 31 Barclay St, N. Y. 



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